Activision Patches!

[digitalpress]

If you like them, check out this page I'm working on.

http://www.digitpress.com/archives/arc00150a.htm

And yes, I own the ones that you can click on and see a close-up. The ones that are missing though... does anyone have these? I'd really like to get pictures of them to complete this page.

I also have most of the letters received when you got the patches in the mail, I'll scan those in as well over the next few days.

http://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/patches/billyclub_sm.jpghttp://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/patches/choppercommandos_sm.jpghttp://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/patches/shortordersquad_sm.jpghttp://www.digitpress.com/dpsightz/patches/savethechickenfoundation_sm.jpg

[orrimarrko]

Wow - that is a really, really cool idea!

Thanks Joe!

[Boboduo]

It is a cool idea--out of curiosity, did you earn those or buy 'em?

[CrazyImpmon]

You earned the patches by playing the game (at certain level when applicable) and try to get a certain score. Then you send in a picture of the game screen to Activision and they'd send you a patch. It had been 20 years ago so don't expect any new free patches today. ;)

[Buyatari]

I think what he meant was...... Did Joe personally earn these patches back in the day or did he buy them later on from others or on eBay years later.

Adam

[digitalpress]

Oh most of them were purchased, some traded for, about 8 of them were actually "earned".

[kainemaxwell]

That rocks Joe!

[gamergary]

I want a River Raid one. But very cool idea Joe.

[digitalpress]

I've updated the page above, it now includes all of the "letters of commendation" that accompanied the patches that I have in my possession, and more details about the non-2600 scoring requirements. I'm still researching but could use some help specifically with the Commodore 64 requirements!

Check it out.
http://www.digitpress.com/archives/arc00150a.htm

[Mayhem]

I'm still researching but could use some help specifically with the Commodore 64 requirements!

I've got just about all manuals for patch earning C64 games and I believe the requirements are all the same. Will check though 8-)

[digitalpress]

OK last BIG update.

The page is now "folderized" so you can see patches BY SYSTEM! Now I'm definitely gonna need a little help confirming exactly WHICH patch you got for some of those games like Pitfall and River Raid where there was more than one patch style.

Check it out. You'll like it!
http://www.digitpress.com/archives/arc00150a.htm

[Raedon]

these are great! Wish I had actually sent off for more free stuff at that age.

[odysseyzine]

I know that this isn't necessarily patch related, but it must be some kind of Activision giveaway. Does anyone know the history behind this? Is it the same kind of deal as the patches (i.e. take a picture w/ score, mail it in and get a prize)?

I've had this a long time, but I'm not the original owner. I still use it to hold my pants up
http://www.odysseyzine.com/e/activisionbelt.jpg

[RJ]

I sent in for the Seaquest patch & they sent the Laser Blast 1 million patch (by mistake I assume). With that, I lost faith in the whole patch thing.

[orrimarrko]

You got the better end of the deal!

[digitalpress]

Yeah that crappy little "one million" patch is much more uncommon than the one you were supposed to get! Hang onto that one, you'd likely get over $100 on eBay if recent trends are any indication (those Space Shuttle patches... damn I'm gonna be rich someday).

OK here's one for you all. Anyone EVER see - firsthand - the Toy Bizarre patch? This would have been a Commodore 64 exclusive patch, awarded for 70k points (the game is awesome, by the way, designed by Mark "NBA Jam" Turmell).

Anyone?

For now, it's in the Rumor Mill section of the patches page (above).

[GENESISNES]

i noticed this in the activision instruction manuals. I wish my dad would have done this. he also has the envelope you send a doller in to Atari and get the thing to be able to buy crazy climber! NOOO!

[y-bot]

There is a picture of the Toy Bizarre patch in Jerry G's book. Is there a picture of it in the instruction manual or is that one real? Also I have a letter from Activision saying that they had run out of Pitfall 2 patches and they sent the regular Pitfall one instead.

Thanks, y-bot

[digitalpress]

There is a picture of the Toy Bizarre patch in Jerry G's book. Is there a picture of it in the instruction manual or is that one real? Also I have a letter from Activision saying that they had run out of Pitfall 2 patches and they sent the regular Pitfall one instead.

Thanks, y-bot

As stated on the page above (Rumor Mill tab)... "we've never seen one".

The pic is from the manual. Big ups to Mayhem for sending along that scan.

[RJ]

I have NO IDEA where that "1 million" patch is & doubt if I saved it! At the time (years ago, of course) I was a bit upset that I didn't get the right patch &, not owning "Laser Blast" or being familiar w/ its patch, I thought the "1 million" was just a standard thing they sent just to say they did: "Oh, we don't have the Sub Club (Seaquest) patch, let's send the kid THIS one..." that type of thing.
I never dreamed something like eBay would exist, or someone would want the patch, much less PAY for it!
Chalk it up to experience. I don't feel so bad- how was I to know?

BTW: There's a big box in my closet full of Atari stuff- maybe it's in there.

[digitalpress]

UPDATE!

Four of the six "rumor mill" patches exist, including one that we were just about to write off permanently, the Commodore 46 patch for Toy Bizarre!

Jerry Greiner sent over some bona fide scans and you can find the new patches for Kaboom!, Megamania, Dreadnaught Factor, and Toy Bizarre on the page listed above!

Game ON.

[Mayhem]

Well I never doubted the Toy Bizarre one existed but it must be the rarest one of the lot surely 8-)